When I was a kid, either creamed peas or creamed pearl onions were on the menu now and then, especially at Grandma’s house. Honestly, I wonder if they were the ones that used to come in the box, frozen. They were often served with Salmon Loaf, so when I reworked Grandma’s recipe into Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf, I thought I’d better address the Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions, too.
Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf – with Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions
One of my very favorite meals on my site is Guatemalan Chicken in Coconut Milk, Pollo en Leche de Coco. It’s the perfect thing for a cold, winter day – fast and easy and flavor for days! In the past, I’ve served the dish with rice cooked in coconut milk instead of how I first had it, with Guatemalan Rice & Beans.
Pollo en Leche de Coco – Guatemalan Chicken in Coconut Milk
For everyday old dinners, I usually make my plain old mashed potatoes, I call them Simple Rustic Mashed Potatoes. They’re super easy, pretty lean and I don’t even peel them. Sometimes I make my Perfect Instant Pot Potatoes, too. They’re a great mashed potato. But when Company comes or a Holiday rolls around, I pull out all the stops and make my best ones: Best Company Mashed Potatoes.
Best Company Mashed Potatoes
I don’t know about you, but eating at steakhouses isn’t my wheelhouse. So when I go to one, I read every inch of the menu and agonize over just the right choice of steak and sides to maximize my experience! (And then I hate it if someone else orders something that looks better than what I have, lol!) And while I enjoy the steak, what makes it for me is the au gratin potatoes. My daughter takes after me because she was out for a special dinner with her sweetie, and what Jess raved about the next day wasn’t the steak, it was Ruth’s Chris Potatoes au Gratin.
Ruth’s Chris Potatoes au Gratin Copycat make individual or one large casserole.
My Mom used to make what she called American Fries. She’d pull out the electric skillet (so many things were made in that! Hello Porcupine Balls, I remember you…and not fondly, either) but we were happy to see that skillet it if it meant American Fries. Now me, I think the BEST American Fries are American Fries From Leftover Potatoes.
American Fries From Leftover Potatoes
I can’t think of any recipe I’ve made recently that’s given me as much angst as Mashed Cauliflower. See, I love cauliflower. Cooked almost anyway and raw, too. And I love my One Pot Mash in the Pan Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice. So when I started hearing about Mashed Cauliflower as a lower carb alternative to Mashed Potatoes I just knew I would love it! I jumped on it. And I hated it. It wasn’t until I started combining the Mashed Cauliflower with Parmesan cheese for Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower that I began to like it.
Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower
While potatoes may be my goto side for so many dishes, there are just some meals that are better with rice. Like almost all Mexican meals! And while I love my Restaurant Style Mexican Rice and Cilantro Lime Rice (Instant Pot or not), I love Arroz Verde Mexican Green Rice even more.
Arroz Verde Mexican Green Rice
So how many of you have a “Deserted Island” food? I almost said, “dessert island” that would be even better, huh? So a Deserted Island food is a food you would pick if you had to live on a deserted island but the catch is It can be only one food. Mine is potatoes. Specifically mashed potatoes and if I could bring my Instant Pot along, it would be these Perfect Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Perfect Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Ok, so what kind of blogger/friend would I be if I posted my homemade Mexican Pinto Bean Spice and then didn’t follow up with a recipe for my Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop? So here it is, and you can make these the old-fashioned way by simmering on the stove or the quicker newfangled Instant Pot version. I vote for quicker, but I have an Instant Pot and an issue with delaying gratification.
Spicy Pinto Beans Instant Pot or Stovetop
I’ve been on a bit of a Meditteranean kick. I’m trying to health up the rest of the summer, at least until Labor Day comes. Besides it’s August and it’s hot and it’s humid (whine whine whine) and I want to eat (and cook) cool and light. And so I made Greek Brown Rice Salad to go with my soon to be posted Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers.
Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)
I just did a post for Horiatiki Greek Salad not too long ago. Gosh, that was good. And I wanted to carry some of those flavors forward with a little twist. Funny how I listed so many variations of our American Style Greek Salads, but I didn’t mention or think about combining it with rice, let alone brown rice.
If you’re looking for a recipe that’s going to use up some of the summer bounty, Smoky Sheet Tray Roasted Vegetables are it!
Smoky Roasted Sheet Tray Vegetables
This is an oldie but a goodie, Corn Patch Corn Casserole. I was thumbing through my recipes when I came across it and I don’t think I’ve made it for over 30 years. I thought I’d resurrect my recipe and try it again. See if my memories about how good this is are correct and all that.
Corn Patch Corn Casserole
It seems I’m all about the summer party recipes, lately, not my typical everyday fare! (See the explanation marks? That proves it!) And this Loaded Baked Potato Salad is definitely one. Heck, it’s a party in a bowl.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
I’m always looking for a simple, easy side dish when we’re grilling something and these Foil Pouch Potatoes Peppers Onions go with just about anything. Burgers, chicken, pork chops, steak.
Foil Pouch Potatoes Peppers Onions
One of the most frugal sides you can make for any casual gathering is Boston Baked Beans. Best of all, one of the most delicious sides you can make is Boston Baked Beans. Isn’t it nice when the universe aligns like that? Especially when the Boston Baked Beans are from the Bull & Finch, Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not and they’re amazeballs!
From the Bull & the Finch, Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not
So over the long weekend, temps way up in the 90’s (oh why is the weather so craaaazy this year?) I somehow got the idea that I wanted some of that Old Fashioned Tuna Macaroni Salad. You know the one I mean, all cool, creamy deliciousness with a few crunchy veggies and that tuna that somehow melds in and makes everything so rich.
Old Fashioned Tuna Macaroni Salad
Are you having issues with your Instant Pot Rice? I did too when I first started. A bit of practice and applying some time-honored rice cooking principles did the trick. Now my Perfect Instant Pot Rice turns out perfectly every time.
Perfect Instant Pot Rice
When Chipotle Mexican Grill came out with their Cilantro Lime Rice, it seems the whole country went wild over it. And with good reason: it’s delish! Best of all, it’s easy to make at home, whether you want to make Cilantro Lime Rice Instant Pot or Stove Top!
Shortcut Chicken Fajitas & Cilantro Lime Rice
So I always wonder how the winter is going for everyone – we’re going to be up to 58 tomorrow but I’m bummed because it’s supposed to rain. But it was supposed to snow, so we’re lucky for this heat wave. Then down to a more seasonal 15 degrees by the end of the week. It seems the perfect time to tuck into some comfort, like this Cauliflower Au Gratin.
Cauliflower au Gratin – simple enough and oh so scrumptious!
Are you looking for a super fast, super easy way to make Cauliflower Rice? Do you have an Instant Pot? Here it is, an easy one-pot mash in the pan Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice.
Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice
Do you ever mess up a recipe and then decide that you liked it so much you couldn’t have it any other way? Well, that’s what happened to this Warm Farro Salad with Charred Corn from the July/August Food Network Magazine. It turned out to be a happy mistake.
Jeff’s Warm Farro Salad with Charred Corn
When I lived in the Southwest, I used to miss “Baked Beans.” It seemed that anytime I ate out and ordered beans as a side, they were either Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros or some kind of Barbecued Baked Beans. Now that I’m in the Midwest, I miss those Cowboy Beans. Go figure, huh? Not anymore, though!
Frijoles Charros or Cowboy Beans
If you’ve never had a really good German Potato Salad, you might think you might think you don’t care for it. I know this to be true because I’ve tried, from time to time, grocery store deli German Potato Salad. It doesn’t compare to what you can make at home.
German Potato Salad
I admit to being surprised that I liked this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad so much, and so did the folks. And I have my lil’ sis (who I no longer consider evil for suggesting such a salad knowing I’m not a Ranch fan) to thank.
Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
I have a little secret. I’ve been holding out on you. See, I’ve been making these Hasselback Scalloped Potatoes for months now and never posted them. They’re amazing, they’re gorgeous and they’re amazing. Oh, I said that already. Well, I can’t say it enough.
Hasselback au Gratin Potatoes
I gotta admit that usually when I’m looking for a killer side, I’m thinking potatoes. What can I say? I’m from the North and have Irish roots – so maybe it’s genetic, lol! Sometimes rice just feels right, though, and it definitely did when I served Pernil, an herby, garlicky pork roast with Puerto Rican roots. Whoever guesses what recipe is coming next gets a prize…a free recipe for Pernil!
Rice with a Puerto Rican Flair
Have you ever wished there could be a Turkey Stuffing permeated with the rich flavor and smokiness of bacon? One that’s fantastic in the bird & in a casserole? A seriously crave-worthy stuffing? My Sister’s Ridiculously Delish Thanksgiving Bacon Stuffing is the answer. Now, what was that question, again! You’ll be forgetting everything except for this stuffing once you start eating it!
My Sister’s Ridiculously Delish Bacon Stuffing
First of all, I’m just not that much of a French Fry fan. I think they’re okay, don’t get me wrong, and every once in a while I have one that’s great. But that one great one ruins every other French Fry for me for a long time. And Frozen French Fries? I’m a hater. It’s a strong word, hater, but it’s true. That’s why I had to come up with these Stupid Simple French Fries.
Stupid Simple French Fries great oven baked fries!
